E-Rabs turn to defense to lead title run

Saturday

ROCKFORD — Sincere Parker’s shooting, Sha’Den Clanton’s dunking and Chris Burnell’s passing tend to steal the spotlight for an East team contending for its first NIC-10 basketball title in 37 years.

But how far the E-Rabs go may depend most on their defense.

East’s 12-3 edge in steals Saturday was the key to the E-Rabs’ 62-49 victory Saturday over Jefferson in the sixth annual Rumble in the Rock at Rock Valley College. Just as the 25 turnovers they forced was the key to Wednesday’s first-place showdown beatdown of Harlem.

“We’ve got to take care of the ball,” Jefferson point guard George Williams (11 points) said. “There are no excuses. This is varsity basketball; we shouldn’t have that many turnovers. We’ve got to come out and perform. We didn’t do that. Every possession counts. You cannot sleep against them.”

No, you can’t, but protecting the ball is easier said than done against East (18-2, 11-0 NIC-10).

“They are definitely long,” Jefferson coach John Rossato said. “They are a tough team in transition, and if you are loose with the ball, they are going to get two points on the other end.”

Parker, the NIC-10’s leading scorer, shot only 1-for-5 the first half and made only one 3-pointer all game. But East got so many fastbreaks the second half he wound up with 17 points and shot 7-for-9 after intermission.

“All of our fastbreaks were off steals,” Clanton said. “We get the steals and then we go on a run. We’re not an offensive team no more. We’re more defense now. We want to turn it up on defense so we can make a deep run in March.”

East can still be vulnerable in the halfcourt. Jefferson (11-9, 5-6) shot 7-for-16 on 3-pointers, with Williams and Brendan Moss (11 points) combining to shoot 6-for-10. But when the E-Rabs get their hands in the passing lanes or trap ball handlers along the sidelines, look out.

“That’s what we are supposed to do; we’re supposed to turn our defense into offense,” said Andres Thompson, who led East with four steals. “Those steals translate into fastbreak layups.”

“Steals are the best part of our defense,” Burnell said. “We have active hands all the time, so we can be an A-plus defense and get after teams.”

Auburn 67, Guilford 61

Josh Ausler (18), Tyshawn Whitt (13), Demonde Barmore (12) and Haniefe Johnson (10) combined for 53 points to lead Auburn. Jamil Jones had 20 points on 9-for-10 shooting to top Guilford, which was coming off an overtime loss to Boylan the night before. Jack Holmstrom added 14 points for the Vikings.

GIRLS

Guilford 51, Auburn 34

Kate Dennis had 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists and Myliaha Ezeofor added 11 points and 13 rebounds as Guilford upset Auburn. The Vikings outrebounded the Knights 49-33 and held Auburn to 22 percent shooting (12-for-57). Nya Taylor scored 13 points and Zhakyla Evans 10 for Auburn (11-12, 7-4), which fell from third to fourth in the NIC-10.

East 49, Jefferson 28

Kabrea Jamerson had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and Jamie Ward added 11 points for the E-Rabs (9-14, 4-6). Karley Colson scored nine points for Jefferson, while Ti’embra Fair added four points and nine rebounds and Mya Singleton five points and eight rebounds for the J-Hawks.